US Rep Martha McSally Defends Salty Fighter Pilot Language

Martha McSally is a US Representative from Arizona and a former US Air Force A-10 pilot. She recently announced her intention to run for Arizona’s soon-to-be vacant Senate seat. Within that conversation, she defended the coarse language recently used by President Trump:

“I speak a little salty behind closed doors at times as well, so I’m not going to throw the first stone on using any language,” said McSally…

“I’m a fighter pilot and I talk like one,” she says.

McSally, you may recall, famously sued the Department of Defense because the US military required her to wear Islamic garb while she was deployed to Saudi Arabia. Congress intervened and required the military to change that rule before the suit went to court — in yet another example of Congress having to right the military about respectful treatment…and religion.

That said, there really is no excuse for “salty language” — fighter pilot or not. (Admittedly, it’s so connected to the fighter pilot community there’s an entire lexicon just for them.) Generally, the gratuitous use of profanity is sign of a lack of discipline or a weak vocabulary.

More importantly, it indicates a lack of respect and honor. While some used to say “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”, the Bible long before said

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
– James 3:9-10

Using normal, respectful or “clean” language is the honorable thing to do, whether as politician, fighter pilot, or Christian.